How an Italian island went from prison to utopia for gay men under Mussolini
During Mussolini’s fascist Italy, gay men faced discrimination and oppression due to their perceived contrast with traditional masculine ideals.
Despite the lack of any legislation prohibiting consensual same-sex relationships, Mussolini was passionately opposed to homosexuality, viewing it as an imported sin that contradicted the image of a strong fascist society.Fascism at the time propagated a myth of stereotypical Italian virility, portraying Italian men as strong, masculine figures.
Under Mussolini, homosexuality was considered incompatible with this virility, and as a result, the dictatorship worked to eradicate it from the country.
The dictator was unwilling to openly accept any activity that he saw as fundamentally contrary to the image of a powerful fascist state.This resulted in an odd technique for dealing with anyone who did not fit into the ideal of Italian society proposed by Mussolini, particularly gay men.
